Parent Educator

South Region Parents as Teachers

Oki. Are you passionate about supporting young children and families in Lethbridge?

Consider joining our team of caring family support professionals.

We are currently inviting applications for a .6 FTE parent educator/ home visitor in Lethbridge.

Title : Indigenous-supporting home visitor - Parents as Teachers

Location: Lethbridge

Hours: 0.6 FTE Tu – Th based on 21 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work required.

Benefits: We offer an exceptional benefits package including vision, dental, extended health, generous health spending account; 3 weeks vacation (prorated for part-time) to start.

Reports to: Program Manager

About Us:

For over twenty-five years, South Region Parents as Teachers has been engaging and supporting families in Southern Alberta to promote the optimal development, learning and health of their children in the crucial early years of life. Our mission is to provide the information, support and encouragement families need to help their young children develop optimally (prenatal through kindergarten). South Region Parents as Teachers is proud to be an international Parents as Teachers Affiliate program utilizing the innovative, evidence-based Parents as Teachers home visiting model.

Position Summary:

A certified parent educator supports families during the crucial early years of a child’s life through the Parents as Teachers model components, which include personal home visits, group connections, child screenings and linkages to a network of resources. Parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being is emphasized in their work with families. Utilizing the Parents as Teachers Foundational Curriculum in culturally sensitive ways, the parent educator partners, facilitates and reflects with families to build protective factors.

Assets for this position include:

• Strong working knowledge of Blackfoot language and culture.
• Strong working knowledge of Indigenous worldviews, values and beliefs including traditional parenting.
• Strong working knowledge of Indigenous supports and resources in the City of Lethbridge and area.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma preferred in a human-services related field such as child and youth care, early childhood development and education, education, nursing, social work, health or psychology. Combination of equivalencies and experience may be considered.
• Minimum of two years supervised experience working with young children and their parents.
• Strong work ethic.
• Knowledge of early childhood development and parent education.
• Knowledge of Indigenous perspectives on well-being and resiliency, parenting practices and traditional sources of knowledge.
• Strong working knowledge of community and cultural resources to assist families.
• Ability to establish rapport with diverse families and empower them to build their strengths.
• Familiarity with developmental screening tools such as the Ages and Stages 3 and Ages and Stages Social-Emotional 2 Questionnaires.
• Demonstrated group facilitation skills.
• Exceptional, effective verbal communication and interpersonal skills (i.e. non-judgemental, strength-based, objective, reflective, empathic, patient, tactful).
• Ability to be a self-starter, work independently and contribute in a team environment.
• Strong written communication, organizational and record-keeping skills.
• Computer skills including utilizing a database, web browsing, e-mail, Internet and word-processing.
• Ability to work flexible hours when necessary.
• Physically able to carry large items, go up and down stairs, and join families in play on the floor.

Requirements:

• Successfully complete the Parents as Teachers Foundational and Model Implementation Trainings.
• Maintain current certification as a parent educator by completing the required professional development hours for years of service.
• Current satisfactory Child Intervention Record Check.
• Valid Alberta Driver’s License, insurance and a reliable vehicle.

In order to maintain a safe and secure working environment, applicants new to Parents as Teachers must provide:

• Criminal Record Check, including vulnerable sector check from Local Police Service or RCMP detachment;
• Social Insurance Number (SIN) card or document issued by Service Canada; SIN card/document must be in current legal name. Name on SIN card/document must match your Government Issued ID and Criminal Record Check;
• Government issued ID - valid driver's license, valid passport or Nexus card.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide personal home visits focused on parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting and family well-being (including planning, delivering and documenting the visit).
• Deliver culturally rooted services and supports with care and consideration to individual unique family and cultural context including Indigenous.
• Use the PAT Foundational Curricula to share research-based information with families.
• Complete all required documentation regarding personal home visits, group connections, developmental screenings and resource connections in a timely manner.
• Facilitate group connections to give families an opportunity to build social connections with each other, engage in parent-child interaction activities and increase their knowledge of ways to support children’s development.
• Complete developmental monitoring, developmental screenings and health reviews for each enrolled child.
• Complete family-centred assessments with each family.
• Develop, monitor and review goals with each family.
• Connect families to resources that help them reach their goals and address their needs.
• Help parents and children transition to other services as needed, such as to preschool or to kindergarten.
• Organize and clean inventory supplies/materials, etc.
• Participate in regular, reflective supervision, professional development, and engage in setting personal goals for self-development.
• Participate in regular staff meetings.
• Offer support, orientation, mentoring as requested to new staff/practicum students.
• Obtain competency-based professional development and renew parent educator certification annually.
• Participate in continuous quality improvement.
• Engage in recruitment activities including community awareness events and presentations.
• Assist with the preparation of newsletters and promotional material.
• Participate in interagency meetings/committees as required.

Please ensure you attach the following documentation to your application:

• Cover letter
• Resume summarizing relevant knowledge, training, and experience
• Copy of post-secondary diploma, degree or transcripts
• Minimum of three professional references.

Applications may be submitted through our partner, Palliser School Division, Career Opportunities: www.pallisersd.ab.ca/hr/career-opportunities

We thank all those who apply, but only those candidates being considered for an interview will be contacted.

By virtue of the submission of an application, the applicant agrees that the program manager or designate can contact previous employers for the purpose of conducting confidential reference checks whether or not the applicant has listed a reference for that employer.

For more information on our organization, visit our website at www.southregionpat.ca.

Please note that this posting may remain open until a suitable candidate is found.